School Night Suppers - Skillet Stroganoff

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Here is another quick-fix meal that will help you cope with a busy fall schedule. The base of the dish is ground beef and the addition of mushrooms and sour cream make it a bit like a beef Stroganoff. However, the addition of pasta takes this one-skillet dish in a whole other direction. The recipe which was the inspiration for this meal comes from the blog Taste and Tell. Rotini was used as the pasta in that recipe. I've come to the conclusion that rotini is nothing more than small rotelle, and I honestly think that any small pasta can be used in its place. It takes about 15 minutes to assemble the skillet and you'll need another 30 minutes to cook it. The good news is that all of the cooking is done in the same skillet, so the dish also qualifies as a one dish meal. The pasta makes this a substantial meal and it is one I think your family will enjoy. Here is how it is made.

School Night Suppers - Porcupine Meatballs

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...These meatballs appeared on dinner tables with great regularity during the 1970's. The recipe appealed to moms because it was quick and easy to prepare, and children loved the spiny meatballs for their novelty and taste. As it cooks, the rice pokes through the meatballs and resembles porcupine quills. This is a bare bones version of the recipe that has many variations. I've slightly altered the original recipe myself. I use 2 cans of soup rather than the one called for in the original recipe because I want to have enough sauce to use as a gravy on the mashed potatoes that I serve with this dish. I also add grated cheese to my meat mix to add a bit more flavor to the meatballs. This is a great weeknight meal. It will take some of you on a stroll down memory lane. If you have never made the meatballs and have young children at your table, I urge you to give this recipe a try. Here is how these novel meatballs are made.

School Night Suppers - Shrimp and Rice Skillet

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is another skillet supper that I hope will make the transition from summer to fall meals a bit easier for you. The dish was inspired by a recipe I found in the Hunt's Signature Recipe Collection, that you can view here. I've made some changes to their version and those changes  are reflected in the recipe that appears below.  In order to cut the preparation time for this dish, I use two skillets and simultaneously cook the rice and shrimp, rather than staging their preparation in one shared skillet. I've also replaced the liquid in the Hunt's recipe with a Bloody Mary mix that adds wonderful flavor without the addition of myriad herbs or spices. If you decide to use my version of the recipe, it is important to keep an eye on the rice and add water or stock if it begins to dry before it is fully cooked. I think those of you who try this recipe will be generally pleased with the results. It lacks the finesse that most of us prefer for a company dinner but it makes a great family supper when served with a crisp salad and a good peasant bread.  The dish is easy to make and it can be on the table in about 30 minutes. Here is how it's made.

School Night Suppers - Cajun Rice Skillet

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I'll be working on a series of recipes this fall that are perfect for busy weeknight suppers. Tonight's feature has been child tested and it was a hit with the back-to-school crowd, particularly the high school gang. Lest I get ahead of myself, I've long suspected that teenagers will eat anything, and the seven year old sitting at my table moved every kidney bean to the side of his plate, so my ego has been kept in check. Despite the vagaries of appetite gathered around my table tonight, this is a delicious skillet supper and it's easy enough for the older kids to make for themselves. Save for the sausage, this is a pantry meal and a quick one at that. I've labeled it "Cajun" because that's what the spice mix I had in the pantry was called. I learned a while back that the difference between Cajun and Creole food is based on the location from which the dish comes. Both have French roots, but Creole, or city, dishes are more refined and use more protein than their Cajun country cousins. I used a small amount of Linguica in the skillet I prepared, but Andouille or hot Italian sausage can also be used. I am very fond of casseroles and I really enjoyed this one. I think you will, too. Here is how this simple, filling supper is made.